NSW: Grog ad debate wanted, Rees says at brewery site

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2008
NSW: Grog ad debate wanted, Rees says at brewery site

SYDNEY, Dec 5 AAP - The community wants to have a debate on whether there should be
tougher restrictions on alcohol advertising, NSW Premier Nathan Rees said as he attended
a ceremony for a new brewery.

NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca raised the issue at a meeting with his state and
federal counterparts in Brisbane on Friday, and they agreed to look at the matter.

Mr Della Bosca said reducing alcohol consumption, especially among young people, would
have a positive impact across many areas.

"There would be a massive impact on the incidence of road and industrial accidents
which would have huge health benefits, take a lot of pressure off emergency departments
and (have) a huge impact on the burden of alcohol-related disease," he said.

"The numbers are very clear - the savings to the economy alone are measured in the billions."

Mr Rees, commenting at a sod turning ceremony for a new $120 million Bluetongue Brewery
on the NSW central coast, said there had been a shift in community sentiment about alcohol
culture.

"You go back 20 years and people talked about banning cigarette advertising for example,
people thought that was over the top at the time," he said.

"But I don't think anyone now would question that has worked, and worked well.

"I think these are the debates the communities want to have. Should we or shouldn't
we advertise something that, when used to excess, leads to alcohol-related violence and
serious health risk."

He said any attempt to curb alcohol advertising would require a national approach.

Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner had mixed feelings about toughening up
alcohol advertising laws.

"I'm not absolutely convinced that an advertising ban would have the impact that some
are suggesting," Mrs Skinner told reporters.

"I haven't seen any evidence that it would."

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said any measure that helped to curb excessive
alcohol consumption should be welcomed.

"Curbing the irresponsible consumption of alcohol must be central to any meaningful
preventative health strategies," chair of the college's trauma committee, Danny Cass,
said.

"Tougher restrictions on alcohol advertising must be part of such a strategy."

AAP nr/hn/tnf/de

KEYWORD: ALCOHOL NSW

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